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Full-body scanners face mounting criticism on a variety of fronts, USA TODAY reports. Frequent fliers complain that the machines are slow and inefficient, civil libertarians say they violate privacy, and some scientists worry about radiation levels. Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office has said it remains unconvinced that the scanners will significantly improve aviation security. The TSA, however, says it continues to be "highly confident" in the technology and notes that travelers who object may choose another screening method.

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Manufacturers of controversial full-body airport scanners are launching software upgrades that would allow the scanners to display a generic figure instead of an actual image of a traveler's body. Each person would generate an image that looks like a person wearing a baseball cap. The TSA is currently testing the software. Meanwhile, the TSA continues to add scanners at airports around the U.S. There are currently 194 full-body scanners at airports around the country, and the TSA hopes to add 1,000 more by the end of next year.

A full-body scanner will debut at San Diego's Lindbergh Field shortly before Labor Day, officials said. Officials said the airport may get more scanners over the next few months, and U.S. airports will receive about 450 full-body scanners this year. Privacy advocates have criticized the devices, which produce an image of an air traveler's body on a computer screen.

Full-body scanners face mounting criticism on a variety of fronts, USA TODAY reports. Frequent fliers complain that the machines are slow and inefficient, civil libertarians say they violate privacy and some scientists worry about radiation levels. Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office has said it remains unconvinced that the scanners will significantly improve aviation security. The TSA, however, says it continues to be "highly confident" in the technology and notes that travelers who object may choose another screening method.

Ministers in the U.K. say that airline passengers will not have the option of getting a full-body pat-down search rather than going through a full-body search scanner when the devices are introduced at Heathrow airport next week. At U.S. airports, passengers are given a choice.

President Barack Obama could expedite the implementation and use of full-body scanners throughout airports in the U.S. because the move does not require Congress to pass legislation. Advocates say the body scanners would have detected the explosives smuggled onboard a recent Northwest Airlines flight by an Islamic militant. Dutch authorities said they will begin using such scanners within weeks. Currently, the full-body scanners are used at 19 American airports, and passengers can opt for a pat-down rather than the scan.